Movin' On To A Better America

I
actually found this single in a thrift store in Midland, TX. How I get
so lucky finding Colorado records in some of the most unlikely locales,
is beyond me.

This ode to America, specifically
American chambers of commerce, was appropriately released in 1976, and
penned by the prolific Ralph Harrison and Tim Schumacher, over at the
Great American Music Machine, in Denver. The company had a knack for
writing long-form PSA-style songs (one of these days I'll write an
entire blog about them, but every time I think I have every possible
GRAMM record out there, I find another - see the Denver Nuggets and the Skiing in the Rockies LP for two recent GRAMM posts).

"The
mission of your Chamber of Commerce is to advance human progress
through an economic, political, and cultural system based on individual
freedom, incentive, opportunity, and responsibility..." - Liner notes on the picture sleeve.

Ralph handles the vocals on "Movin' On to a Better America," and the spoken-word flipside, "The Story of Free Enterprise."

He follows with the spoken word text:

"Yes
the American way, it's a good way. A way of life enjoyed by over 200
million proud people who share its many values. A legend of freedom and
prosperity, envied by billions the world over, who have only heard of
its greatness. An example of humanity worth preserving for the free
world to follow in the years that lie ahead. And when you talk about
preservation of our preferred American lifestyle, the discussion leads
directly to the work of the many dedicated chambers of commerce..."